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BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The streak is over, as much as Penn State wishes it wasn't.

Indiana's fourth-quarter surge that led to a 44-24 win at Memorial Stadium snapped one of the longest winning streaks for one team over another in the Big Ten. The Nittany Lions' 16-game stretch of wins dated back to Nov. 6, 1993.

"After the game, we were really excited about the win," safety Greg Heban said. "But we weren't super shocked about it. We knew we were a good team."

The Hoosiers had never beaten Penn State, but it's not like they had never come close.

That 1993 game was decided by seven points. The Hoosiers came within a field goal of winning in 2000, then were an emotional goal-line stand away in 2004.

In 2007 and 2011 they were within a touchdown.

While Penn State tries to recover emotionally from its sloppiest performance of the season though, Indiana will celebrate finally getting over the hump against a program that has always defined, for them, the difference between the big time and the also-rans in the conference.

"Penn State is one of the dominant programs in the Big Ten, and they are one of the standards you want to set your team to," coach Kevin Wilson said. "It was nice to go toe-to-toe with them today and come away with a win."

Wartman hurting

For the first time this season, linebacker Nyeem Wartman was held without a tackle.

The former Valley View star didn't start, giving way to senior Stephen Obeng-Agyapong at outside linebacker, and he played only sparingly in the first half. But coach Bill O'Brien said afterward that the switch had less to do with trying to get more defensive backs - Obeng-Agyapong is a safety by trade - on the field against the pass-happy Hoosiers than it did Wartman's aching left shoulder.

"It was more that Nyeem has been banged up in practice with that shoulder," O'Brien said. "He's been kind of in and out. Nyeem is fine. He's a good player for us. But it's kind of, which one is going to be healthier for us? That's why we kept Obeng in there."

A-Rob shines

If there was one player who kept Penn State within striking distance in the second half, it was receiver Allen Robinson.

He finished the game with 12 catches for 173 yards and two touchdowns, almost adding a third that would have tied the game, 21-21, had he not landed about a foot out of bounds in the closing minutes of the third quarter. He was injured on the play and only had one more catch.

Still, this is his fourth 100-yard receiving game of the season. His 12 catches are the second-most in a game ever at Penn State, and his 173 yards are eighth-best. His two touchdowns give him 16 in his career, which tie him with O.J. McDuffie for fifth in program history.

"Allen is a great player," Hackenberg said. "I think he'd be a great security blanket for any quarterback in the country. We just try to get the ball in our best players' hands."

Robinson played alongside a young group of receivers, mainly because senior Brandon Felder sprained his ankle in practice during the week and couldn't play.

He entered the game as Penn State's runner-up to Robinson in catches and yards.

"Any time you lose a starting receiver, it's basically a little bit of an impairment on us," O'Brien said. "But that's part of the sport."

Rough day for Lewis

By hauling in six receptions, Wyoming Valley West grad Eugene Lewis tripled his season total.

But he'll likely remember this game more for the fumbled kickoff inside the 10 that set up Indiana's back-breaking 9-yard touchdown run by Tre Roberson that made it 42-17. It was the Hoosiers' third touchdown in less than five minutes to start the fourth quarter.

Dream game

When the Nittany Lions last played, Zach Ladonis was a typical Penn State student.

On Saturday, he looked like the best long-snapper the Nittany Lions had on the football team.

The Berwick graduate and former Bulldogs tight end and defensive end went to walk-on tryouts for the Nittany Lions on Sept. 17 and made the team as a long snapper. He snapped flawlessly on all four of Alex Butterworth's punts, and he even made the tackle on Shane Wynn's six-yard punt return in the fourth quarter.

It wasn't a perfect day for the Penn State snappers, though. Field goal snapper Ty Howle was inconsistent, firing a snap on the ground past holder Butterworth in the first quarter, costing the Nittany Lions a field goal attempt.

"Obviously, we didn't snap it well on that one field goal," O'Brien said.

"I thought Zach Ladonis did a nice job, a pretty decent job. But we'll have to snap better on field goals."

Nittany Notes

The Nittany Lions fall to 4-3 in Big Ten road games under O'Brien. ... The four sacks of Indiana quarterback Nate Sudfeld were a season best for the Lions. ... Butterworth's 52-yard punt in the second quarter was a season best. ... Returning from a right knee injury to get his first extensive action of the season, linebacker Mike Hull had 10 tackles, the second double-digit tackle game of his career. The other came against Indiana last season. ... Adrian Amos' third-quarter interception was the fourth of his career, and he has at least one in each of his last three seasons. ... Indiana's 44 points were the most against Penn State since Wisconsin scored 45 in the season finale in 2011.

Contact the writer: dcollins@timesshamrock.com @psubst on Twitter

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